Wade turns finger sleeve into fashion statement

OKLAHOMA CITY — Dwyane Wade is not shy about his playoff fashion statements, from his lens-less glasses to his pink pants.

But the Heat's All-Star shooting guard insists the color-coordinated wraps he's been wearing on his left index finger are more training gear that haute couture.

"It just keeps the swelling down," he said of the wraps. "If I don't wear it, it swells up."

Wade dislocated the finger during the first quarter of an April 21 game against the Washington Wizards and has been wearing colorful wraps since his return. By contrast, after teammate LeBron James sustained a dislocated finger a month earlier, he quickly discarded the protective sleeve.

Teammate James Jones, who, too, sustained a dislocated finger late in the season, also continues to wear a sleeve, although one not as colorful as Wade's.

"Everyone's dislocated finger is a little different," Wade said. "I think mine and J.J.'s is a little bit more to the point where we wear stuff to try to keep the swelling down a little bit."

But only Wade has turned the wrap into a fashion accessory, wearing blue and pink wraps both on and off the court.

Thursday, Wade's color of choice for Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder was green.

"Just whatever they put in my locker, I decide," he said after the morning shootaround at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

So why green this time?

"I'm wearing green tonight," he said of his game-night ensemble.

Timing issue

James said before Thursday's game he's done killing time. Well, at least answering questions about his playing time, which again has become an issue after he appeared to wear down until a similar heavy-minutes burden in last season's NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.

"I'm tired about answering questions about how many minutes I'm playing in the game or if I'm feeling good during the game," he said in a bit of a testy tone following the morning shootaround.

"I mean it is what it is. If I'm in the game, I'm trying to produce for my team. If I can get a couple of minutes there, I'd love. But, I don't . . . it's whatever."

Yet he was willing to talk about adding playing time in the offseason, namely the opportunity to play alongside Thunder forward Kevin Durant with the U.S. Olympic team.

"I envision it's going to be pretty dynamic," he said, perking up. "You know, we're two guys who like to get out and get in the open floor, and we're two of the biggest competitors that we have in the game today, so it's going to be fun."

Summer school

The NBA on Thursday released its schedule for the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, with the Heat scheduled for five games.

The Heat's team in the league mostly for rookies, free agents and younger players likely will include the player selected with their No. 27 pick in the June 28 NBA Draft, rookie guard Norris Cole, rookie guard Terrel Harris and second-year center Dexter Pittman. Harris and Pittman are impending free agents. The Heat does not currently hold a second-round pick in this month's draft. Center Eddy Curry said he does not plan to participate in summer league.

In all, the field will include 24 teams, with NBA TV showing all games either live or on tape.